Bottle dispenser



Feb. A18, 1941. A, G MacCARTEE TAL 2,232,619

` BOTTLE DISPENSER v I Filed Dec. 27, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 PATENT oFFicE BOTTLE DISPENSER Allen G. MacCartee and Lewis C. Barrow,

Birmingham, Ala.

Application December 27, 1939,v Serial No. 311,206

16 Claims.

This invention, relating as indicated to a bottle dispenser, is more particularlyv directed to aA means for storing bottles containing soft drinks, beer and the like, so thatthe same can be readily dispensed. i I

It is one object of the invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which will eiliciently ds` drinks, for example, any one of nine brands or flavors may be chosen.

larger bottles can be dispensed and more ythan nine flavors may be dispensed.

One object of the invention is to provide a dispensin'g apparatus which is foolproof in that it 20 cannot get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate all springs and other parts that may wear during usage.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide inclined runways which discharge upon horizontally reciprocating slide members which in turn permits bottles to be withdrawn from a series of bottles on the runways. One bottle at a time is withdrawn and falls or rolls upon a normally horizontal pivoted plate or cradle which is actuated by the weight of the bottle and deposits the bottle upon an inclined chute. At the end of the chute a stop is provided so that thev customer or clerk may readily. grasp the lbottle.

In connection with the foregoing object it will be noted that ywe have reduced the number of parts to a minimum by using one pivoted cradle in conjunction with three or more runways..

It is also an object of the invention to` provide interchangeable means so that the apparat can be operated by coin control in one instance and ,manually in another.-

'- -As the description proceeds, it will be seen 45 that there is nothing to wear out and that no parts will need replacing, thus eliminating the heretofore very troublesome factor of servicing. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the 50 means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certainmechanism constituting,

however, but one of various applications of the 55 principles of our invention.

It will be noted that by simple modification In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a frontfelevation showing the manually operated control panel.

Figure 2 is a partial front elevation showing the coin operated control panel.

Figure IZi is a detail yView of a portion of the coin control.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 6. l n

' Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substan- 10 tially centrally of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail view.

pivoted plate or cradle.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the chute., y

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the small door at the outer `end of the chute.

Referring now to the drawings `and more particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that we have provided a cabinet I, somewhat lar to va conventional refrigerator cabinet and being provided with av doorv2 which gives access to the bottle storing compartment. Doors 3 and 4 `are 25 provided ior access to the refrigerating mechanism.

A panel 5 is removably seated in the outer front wall of the cabinet I and this panel has a series of name plates 6 to indicate the brand so or avo; of beverage which may be obtained by pulling one of the ball handles 1 immediately below such name plate. Eitherdoor 8, 9 or I0 is pushed outwardly bythe bottle as it emerges from the cabinet and the bottle is in position to be grasped by the hand of the person operating the machine.

In Figure 2 a coin control panel 5a is used, thisv being somewhat similar to the panel 5 of Figure 1 and having names plates 6I, and a series of coin receiving members 1*. The particular structure of the coin control is not illustrated in Figure 3 because it forms no part of this invention. Coin controldevices are available on the, openrmarket and any preferred type may be used if it provides means for receiving a coin to release thev slide rod II so that it may be drawn to the left "as viewedin Figure 3 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. I y v The cabinet I of Figure 2 is provided with locked doors 2e and 4*l since this cabinet is a vending` machine and not under lthe immediate supervision of a clerk or dealer in beverages.

This cabinet is provided with doors 8n and 9'* 65 Figure 8 is a perspective view of the slide and, 15

v Referring now to Figure 4 it will be seen that and IIJa exactly similar tothe doors 8, 9 and III of Figure 1. i

" The exceptions noted above constitute the only major differences between the manually controlled device and the coin controlled device.

we have provided an inclined runway or shelf I1 which slopes downwardly from left to right as shown in such figure. The outer edge of the runway I1 is provided with an upwardly extending lip or flange I8 which is adapted to engage the bottom or butt of bottles which are horizontally alined on. the runways. A guard rail I9 `is provided as shown in Figures`4 and 5, this rail being supported at its ends upon small posts 20 and 2|. The rail may consist of two or more longitudinally extending members similar to the member I9 in order to engage various size bottles. The guard rail is adjustable longitudinally or axially of the bottles on the runways to receive various lengths of bottles. The post 20 is adapted to be received in any of the holes 22, 23 and 24 and similarly the post 2| is adapted to be received in any of the holes 25, 26 and 21. It will ybe seen that by simple manipulation the guard -rail may be angularly positioned so as to converge toward the right as viewed in Figure 4. For example, post 20 may be inserted in hole 22 and post 2| `retained as shown.

At the lower end of the runway a pivoted or -hinged .plate I is `provided, this plate normally extending in alinement with the runway I1 as shown in full lines in Figure 7. Plate I6 is pro- 'vided vithipins 36 and 31 whereby it is hingedly mounted and at its inner end the under surface is made in the form of la cam surface 33a. The

, runways. I1 4and 40 to 41, inclusive, are supported at their forward portions by means of uprights 29 and 30, and at their rear portions by means of brackets 28 and 39. It is obvious that the number of runways can be increased to any number depen-ding upon .the size of the cabinet I.

.The slide member M is generally U-shaped as shown in detail in Figure 8 and comprises 'a long leg 3| and a slfort leg 32 with a connecting portion. The short leg32 has an upwardly extending stop lug I4 and thelong leg has an upwardly extending portion I5, this latter portion having a camsurface -33 adapted to engage cam surface g2 and an upper horizontally extending surface It will lbe seen that as the slide M moves outwardly the cam surface 33 engages the cam surface 33a on hinged plate |`6 forcing it upwardly so as to engage abottle. This stops the series .of bottles from moving but as .the slide proceeds the stop lug |14 slides outwardly and away from the bottle immediately above the slide thus permitting such bottle to move to the right as Viewed in Figure 7. The slide M is actuated by means of a pull rod -II which is connected to the ,slide by means of pin I2 engaging an aperture in one end of the pull rod and the aperture 35 in one end of the slide. The pin I2 loosely fits intoboth apertures inasmuch as the slide Mis disposed in a plane extending in an acute angle with respectbeing lettered M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T and U. A

` into one of the three chutes.

-1I and 12.

there are three of such cradles D, E and F. The cradle member D shown in Figure 4 consists of two longitudinally extending bars 5I and 52, connected at their opposite ends by means of cross pieces 53 and 54. This generally rectangular member is mounted upon pivot member 55, the pivot being located off center. A weight 51 is attached at the rear end lof the cradle member which causes Ithe cradle to assume a horizontal position in abutment with the stop 56. The stop is attached to an interior wall of the cabinet I as shown in Figure 7 and when a bottle is received in the 'cradle its weight is suicient to overcome thecounterbalance 51, causing the cradle to rotate downwardly and to discharge the bottle The chutes A, B

and C, shown in Figu're 6 and in detail in Figure 'I Chute A, for example, comprises a receiving surface 60 along which the bottle is adapted to slide. Vertical' portionsA 6I and B3 extend upwardly from the bottom 60 and are connected by the cross piece 62. A stop portion 54 is provided and this is ad-apted to engage the bottom of a bottle. An angular piece 65 is adapted to be secured to the outside surface of the stop 64 as shown in Figure 9 this piece contacting the outer wall of the cabinet and serving as a support as shown in Fig. 6.

Three doors are provided 8, 9 and I0, each of these having the respective bumper members 1B,

A bum-per member is adapted to engage the central portion of the bottom of a bottle and as the bottle moves downwardly :the door will be forced upwardly. The bum-per projects the door a slight distance above the bottle so that the same may be easily grasped. I'

, Operation ciently .cooled the apparatus is ready to function.

At the time the bottles are placed on Ithe runways they will extend from the stop member I4 on slide M to a point adjacent the upright 29 (see Figure" 4). The ball handle 1 is grasped and an outward .pull is exerted which causes the slide M to move outwardly. This permits the bottle immediately over the slide to roll to the right as viewed in Figures 5 and 7 andt'o fall downwardly or rc?! upon .the cradle D. The weight of the bottle causes the cradle D .to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6, whereupon the bottle slides downwardly onto the surface of chute A. The .bottle then proceeds to engage .bumper 10 forcing door 8 upwardly and nally coming to rest against stop'64. The bottle may thenA be easily grasped and withdrawn from the chute.

` It is to be noted that as the slide M is drawn outwardly -the'fcam member I5 engages the hinge plate I6 and forces it upwardly so as to engage a bottle and hold the series of bottles in the same position that they `were in at the beginning of the operation. When the slide M is pushed backwardlythe hinged plate I6 descends due to the weight ofthe remaining bottles and gravity, then the remaining bottles roll to the right as viewed 2,232,619 `33 in Figure 4 and come to rest against stop lug I4. f i. In apparatus of thecharacter described, the

The device is then ready to have the cycleof operations repeated. v

It will -be seen that my apparatus may be emf 5 ployed as a coin operated or manually operated device merely by interchanging panels 5 and 5% and the connections to the pull rods Il. also ybe noted that any size bot-tie can be accommodated from a pint size to the smallest bottle now on the market. This is due .to the width of the reciprocating slide M and the width of the hinged plate |6 coupled with the location of the pivot point'of the hinged plate. For example, in

actulal practice we can -rapidly dispense Coca- 15 Cola bottles which are 2%" in diameter and approximately 7%" long. We can also dispense Seven Up' and Orange Crush, these bottles being 21/6" in diameter and about 75/7" long. In addition, we can dispense conventional beer bottles as well as other Itwelve ounce bottles such as Pepsi-Cola and R. C. VCola which are approximately 2%" in diameter and 9% long. Thus it will be seen that the apparatus will s effectively dispense bottles of practically any size 2 without making any changes in the mechanism. It will also be seen .that no springs are employed and that none of the parts will Wear to such an' extent as to become inoperative. so In addition, it will be noted that bottles of any conventional length may be eiectively dispensed.

Lastly, it will be seen that a great deal of time can be saved since it is merely necessary to pull 35 onedesignated lever, whereas in the prior art it has been necessary to grope around in a box of stagnant and unsanitary water.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed insteadof the one o explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any -of the following claims or their equivalent be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and dis- 5 tinctly claim as our invention:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sloping runway adapted to receive a number of bottles with their axes parallel, a hinged plate mounted at the lower end of said 5 runway, said plate lying in the same plane as said runway in one position and lying at an angle to said runway in a second position, a slide mounted adjacent the free end of said hinged plate and.

means on said slide to move said hinged plate upu wardly from said first position to said second position.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sloping runway adapted to receive a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the so' lower end of said runway, a slide 'adjacent said hinged plate, a pivoted cradle member adjacent said slide, and means on said slide to elevate said hinged plate against one of said bottles, said hinged plate normally lying in the plane of said runway and overlying said slide.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sloping runway adapted to rece'lve a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the lower` end ofsaid runway, a slide adjacent said" 70 hinged plate, a. pivoted cradle member adjacent said slide, and means on said yslide to prevent movement of said bottles when said slide is 'in a predetermined position, said hinged plate norfmally lying in the plane of said runway andover- 1I lying said slide.

It Will f tact the second bottle in said series when said combination of a sloping runway adapted to receive a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the f lower end of said runway, a slide adjacent said hinged plate, a pivoted cradle member adjacent 5 said slide, and means on said slide to prevent movement of said bottles when said slide is in a predetermined position, said means being inactive when said slide is in another position thus permitting one of said bottles to move onto said cradle 10 member, said hinged plate normally lying in the plane ofsaid runway and overlying said slide.

` 5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sloping runway adapted to receive a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the lower end of said runway, a slide adjacent said hinged plate, a pivoted cradle member adjacent said slide, said cradle member being actuated about its pivot by the weight of one of said bottles, and means present to cause of said bottles to progressively move from said runway to said Suce and then .to said crache. j'

6. In 'apparatus of the character described, sloping means for holding `a number of bottles 4in series, means for removing the bottle at the 25 extreme lower end from such series of bottles comprising a hinged. plate and a slide, said hinged plate overlying a partof said slide, means on said slide to cause said hinged plate to rise and contact the second bottle in said series when said slide is withdrawn.

7. In apparatus of the character described, sloping means for holding a number of bottles in series, means for removing the bottle at the extreme lower end from such series of bottles comprising a hinged plate and a slide, said hinged' pla-te overlying a. partoi said slide, means on said slide to cause said hinged plate to rise and conslide 4is withdrawn, said means comprising an w upstanding cam member.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a slide comprising a generally U-shaped member having substantially parallel legs and a connecting por-tion, a cam member on one of said legs and a stop lug on the other, the cam member being located substantially at the free end of said one leg and the stop member being located intermediate -the ends of said other leg. 5g 9. In vapparatus of the character described, a

, slide comprising a generally U-shaped member having substantially parallel legs and a connecting portion, a cam member on one of said legs and a stop lug on the other, and means on the connecting portion for connecting said slide to a pull rod.

10. In a refrigerated cabinet, a series of sloping runways each adapted to receive a series of bottles and an opening in a wall of said cabinet normally closed by a door in said cabinet, said bottles being adapted to pass through said opening, means for/selectively engaging a bottle from any one of said runways and causing it to pass through said opening, said means including a B5 pivoted cradle beneath the lowerend of said se# lected/runway.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of e sloping runway adapted to receive a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the lower end of said runway, a. slide adjacent said hinged plate, a pivoted cradle member adjacent said slide and a discharge chute aimed with said crad1e,-said runway being provided with an adjustable guard rail whereby bottles of various 'l5 i lengths may be accommodated, said slide being located between said hinged plate and said cradle member.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the

combination of a sloping runway adapted to re-- ceive a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the lowerend of said runway, a slide adjacent saidv hinged plate, a pivoted cradle member adjacent said slide and a discharge chute alined with said cradle, saidslide being reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said runway and being located between said hinged plate and said cradle member.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a sloping runway adapted to receive a number of bottles, a hinged plate at the lower end of said runway, a slide adjacent said hinged plate, a pivoted cradle member adjacent.

said slide and a discharge chute alined with said cradle, said slide being reciprocable in a direction -at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said `lower end of said runway, said plate having an upper surface normally lying in the plane of said runway and having its tree end away from said runway, there being means present -to move said plate upwardly whereupon the upper surface thereof acts as a stop member. 5

15. In apparatus of the character described, a sloping runway and a. hinged plate lying at the lower end of said runway, said plate having an upper surface normally lying in the plane of said runway and being movable upwardly, out of said l0 plane to act as a stop member, and also having a lower cam surface, .there being means present to engage said lower cam surface and thus move said hinged plate.

16. In apparatus of the character described, a l5 sloping runway and a hinged plate lying at the lower end ofwsaid runway, said plate having an y upper surface normally lying in the plane of said runway, and being movable upwardly, out of said l plane 'and also having a lower cam surface, said 2'0 plate having a width permitting it to be raised between bottles of several different diameters to prevent movement of said bottles located upon said runway, there being means present to engagel said lower cam surface and thus move said 25 hinged plate.

ALLEN G. MACCARTEE.

LEWIS C, BARROW. 

